2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 9-11, 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA
DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER
Award Winners 2025
Anita Dowd
Anita Dowd is a tireless advocate for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. As a Deaf adult with two adult children who are deaf, she understands and represents multiple facets of the D/HH community.
Anita has been the constant in the chapter of Kentucky Hands & Voices. From being a founding member in 2008 to serving as the president for many years, she has now been honored as President Emeritus. She assisted with chapter efforts in recent years to pass CMV legislation as well as to expand state regulations for children with any level of hearing loss to qualify for early intervention. She continues to actively be involved in Board meetings and attending various chapter outreach events. Her contributions to the D/HH community in Kentucky and beyond is matched only by her passion for working with families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Anita has worked in various capacities for the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since 1998. She became the executive staff advisor and then the interim executive director after the tragic passing of Virginia Moore. Based on her experience and her dedication to the Commission, she was the obvious choice to become the next executive director and has served in that position since February 2024. During that short tenure, one highlight is her partnership with the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management to introduce “Moore Safe Nights,� allowing D/HH Kentuckians to receive emergency weather emergency radios at no cost.
Anita also serves on the Kentucky Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Advisory Board and the Hands & Voices Board of Directors. An established public speaker, she brings attention to the “whole child,� and is the author of “The Cursive D.� Anita attended Gallaudet University and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in psychology. In her free time, you’ll find her loving on her two grandchildren, crafting, or dreaming about a goat farm.
Being a Deaf adult, Anita has a unique perspective. However, she values and holds space for the experiences of hearing parents of D/HH children. Her various roles, but most importantly, her passion and desire for helping every child who is deaf or hard of hearing to have the resources to reach his/her highest potential makes her well qualified to be the recipient of the 2025 EHDI Family Leadership Award.